The TRUE 100% first generation Cockapoo is a hybrid cross breed between the Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Poodle. Cockapoos were bred for the purpose of creating a dog that possesses high intelligence, low to no shedding, hypoallergenic and very family friendly. Cockapoos are loving, sweet dogs who great with kids, love to learn tricks, easily house trained/crate trained, love to travel and most love to swim!

The coat of a Cockapoo can be curly, wavey, or sometimes straight. Our puppies (first generation) arrive at adulthood with loose curls for their coat type although we have had variations of this with some being more curly and some more straight. Here at Acura Cockapoos, we do dock the tails of our Cockapoo puppies to give them the same appearance of mom and dad, and also for the sake of cleanliness.

The Cockapoo has a keen intelligence, a wonderful disposition, and, as long as taken care of properly, can live a long life of 15 to 20 years. They have little to no dander or shedding, and are thus sought after for their hypoallergenic traits.

Cockapoos are famous for being loving, affectionate, open, friendly, and eager to please.

The Cockapoo gets its intelligence from the Poodle and it's sturdiness and patient, loyal disposition from the Cocker Spaniel, thus making him/her a wonderful family pet. They are very forgiving of children's play and can handle supervised play with children much better than most small breeds. They usually get along with other animals and have a calm and happy disposition that requires only a moderate amount of exercise to stay healthy.

Temperament

Cockapoos are among some of the more popular hybrid breeds in the current hybrid breed trend. Because pure breeds usually doesn't deviate much from their concrete set of temperament traits. Inter-species breeding is used to attempt to create a dog that has different and desirable temperament characteristics from different dogs.

First generation Cockapoos, being from Cocker Spaniels and Poodles, themselves being great household pets, naturally becomes a good choice as a family companion and pet. Due to being a hybrid breed however, it is hard to predict the exact traits that a Cockapoo may inherit however a first generation does (in my opinion) have a more classic Cockapoo look. Fortunately, Cockapoos are blessed with a generally positive temperament pool to choose from.

Cockapoo Sizes:

There are three different size Cockapoos

1. Toy = 10" or less at the shoulder and should weigh under 12 pounds

2. Mini = 11"-14" at shoulder & weighing 13 - 25 pounds

3. Standard = 15"+ & weighing 25 + pounds

Eager to please

Cockapoos, like their Cocker Spaniel ancestors, have a thirst of approval from their owners. As such, they are able to make use of their inherited intelligence from their Poodle ancestors to quickly pick up tricks and learn the rules around the house. Knowing this, Cockapoos are easy to housebreak.

Easy going

Cockapoos are usually fairly adaptable to different living conditions. Thus, potential pet owners need not consider about the type of housing they are living in when considering Cockapoos as a viable option. Daily walks around the neighbourhood, coupled with indoor activities are usually enough when it comes to physical exercise requirements.

Family/Kids

Cockapoos are very social animals. They love being part of a family and they adore children. This makes them an excellent choice for families with children of all ages or those who want a dog as their companion. They are easy travelers, enjoy hiking, swimming and other outdoor activities with their families.

Registration

The Cockapoo will never be recognized as a breed with the American Kennel Club. There area too many "cockapoo clubs" (such as the American Cockapoo Club (ACC), North American Cockapoo Registry (NACR) and the Cockapoo Club of America (CCA)) to name a few whose sole purpose is to simply register cocker spaniels, poodles and cockapoo puppies for their own profit/gain. None of these "cockapoo clubs" hold meetings, keep minutes, trace lineage, hold events, keep immaculate records which are some of the requirements to be become a recognized breed. Also, there can only be one parent "club" and with so many "cockapoo clubs" it simply will not happen unless they all band together to form one parent "club", have the same goals in mind and contact the AKC regarding the process of having the breed recognized.

HEALTH: Purebreds and inbreeds often carry genetic disease. Heterosis is the phenomenon where crossing two inbred lines can produce descendants with superior genetic foundation. In addition, the absence of inbreeding depression, present in inbred and in lesser extent in purebred dogs in general, as there is some remote inbreeding in any breed. Heterosis is also produced by overdominance, i.e. better combined function of two diverse genes (alleles), on a gene site (locus), compared to two identical (but harmless) ones. This increased health and vigor does not create a superior breed, but the advantages obtained from it are what produce hybrid vigor. This goal in this scenario is not to create a new breed, but to create a happy and healthy pet.

Heterosis effect results in a healthier, more vigorous dog with a reduced chance of genetic disease. It is well known in all domestic animal breedings, hybrids 50%-50% mixes of two different breeds (first generation) will raise the chances of having less genetic diseases because all doubling of detrimental effects will stop in the first generation. This does NOT preclude the first generation cockapoo from developing a hereditary disease! This simply lowers the incidence of genetic/hereditary disease(s) in our pets. The genetic term for this is HETEROSIS EFFECT. This effect often gives non-related individuals stronger descendants than inbreeds.

NOTE: I do the very best I can to insure the puppy you take home is healthy in all respects. My moms & dads are checked healthy every year for optimum health. If a mom or dad shows a hereditary problem they are retired from the breeding program as well as any siblings that I may have here. First generation cockapoos are known for their hybrid vigor however the hybrid vigor only reduces the incidence of genetic/hereditary disease(s) in cockapoos it does not preclude the cockapoo from being afflicted with a genetic disease.

Currently there are no DNA/hereditary tests available for the cocker, poodle or cockapoo for cataracts, glaucoma, hip dysplasia or luxating patellas (the most common ailments of these two breeds). At present I, and every breeder, can only be sure parent dogs are free of these hereditary diseases and when a problem surfaces with a parent dog, remove them (and any siblings) from the breeding program. Thus goes for breeders of purebred and hybrid/designer dogs.

It is important to understand that even if the mom & dad have been screened and found clear of any health problems, no breeder can guarantee that your puppy/dog will never develop a problem during its lifetime.

We do now DNA test for PRA/PRCD and CERF test our adults.

The purpose of these hybrids is not and should never be to develop a new breed. Once one goes beyond first generation purebred to purebred, you loose the heterosis effect, which is the goal for most hybrid breeders. The mother should always be the bigger of the two, to avoid puppies getting too big and complicating the delivery for the mother. It is only in this first generation, the dogs could get the benefit of the greatly demanded HETEROSIS effect, and try to avoid genetic diseases, which are common among purebreds and inbreeds.